French Onion Soup - Comfort in the Cold

 In the midst of another blizzard and cold snap, French Onion Soup to the rescue!  First, the stock:

 

Beef Stock

2 (ish) kg beef bones for stock
4 carrots, peeled and large diced
3 celery, large diced
2 Spanish onions, large diced
4 tablespoons tomato paste (a Turkish or Italian variety is richest)
1 leek
1 bunch parsley
4 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
8 peppercorns
1 cup red wine

Method:
1. Place beef bones in a large roasting pan and roast in a 375ºF oven for 45 minutes, or until the bones begin to become golden brown.
2. Place the onions, celery and carrots on top of bones and place back in oven and roast another 30 minutes or until the vegetables begin to brown.
3. Coat bones with tomato paste and place back in the oven again and roast until tomato paste until it starts to brown but do not let it burn, approximately 15 minutes.
4. Place bones and vegetables into a large stock pot along with remaining ingredients. Cover the bones with cold water and bring pot to a simmer.
5. While bringing the pot to simmer, place the roasting pan over a burner and add the red wine. Scrape the bits from the bottom of the pan using the wine to deglaze the pan, add wine and bits to the stock pot.
6. Once water comes to a boil, set to a low simmer, and skim the stock of scum and fat for the first two hours.
7. Leave stock pot on a low simmer for about 4 hours. Periodically skim excess fat from the top of the pot and add water if necessary.
8. Remove pot from heat and strain stock through a fine sieve. Place into individual containers and store in the refrigerator for up to a week or the freezer for up to a month. 

Next, the soup

French Onion Soup

3-8 red onions, depending on size and personal tastes, shredded 

drizzle olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

sprig of thyme

a few litres beef stock

red wine, or cognac

toasts and cheese (Emmenthal, Oka, or other sharp white cheese)

Sauté the onions in olive oil until translucent and soft.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add beef stock and simmer.  Add wine or cognac.  Simmer for about an hour.

Prepare toasts with cheese.  Ladle soup into oven-proof bowls.  Place cheese toasts on top.  Broil until browned.  Serve and enjoy!

 

 

Squash Pancakes, a Korean snack in time for Hanukkah

 Happy Hanukkah!  A miraculous time of frying in oil!  

These light, vegan and gluten-free (if desired) squash pancakes are a Korean snack that work nicely as fried Hanukkah treat.

 

Korean Squash Pancakes

 

1 small squash, peeled, seeded and grated (not spaghetti squash, but most other kinds, including pumpkin.  Small, as in Acorn Squash, or enough to make 4-6 cups grated)

2 tbs sugar

1 tbs salt

Tamarack Farms Yellow Pea flour, to create batter texture. (May use AP flour, wild rice flour, rice flour, etc.  Use what you would for gluten-free cooking, or without regular flour. ) Quantity of flour depends on the amount of liquid in the squash.

 

I tested a few methods.  One recipe suggested not to grate the squash or put it through a food processor grater, as she didn't wish to clean it up, and recommended fine match-stick cutting of the squash.  I found that I had the best results with grating it.  

Grate the squash and mix with the salt and sugar.  Let sit for 10 - 30 minutes.  You will see liquid in the bowl.  You need the liquid.  

Mix in enough yellow pea flour or desired flour to make a batter.  Let the batter rest.

Fry pancakes in oil, until crisp on each side, about 6-8 minutes.  Enjoy immediately, with some soy sauce or hot sauce, or save for later service.

Enjoy!

Live local, Love local, and how to make it

Tomorrow morning, I'll be on CBC Radio's Weekend Morning Show, with guest host, Marjorie Dowhos, to talk about our wonderful local products.

I'll be preparing a Mango Martini, with Get Cheeky Foods Mango chutney and Patent 5 Elettaria Gin, and two pizzas, with Old Church Bakery pizza dough.  The first is a Turkish pizza with blue cheese, Nature's Farm egg, and Fertile Farm microgreens.  The second pizza is with a Zinn Farm Berkshire Pork Tenderloin that I have marinated and BBQ'd, with hoisin and greens.

The farmers and producers that are vendors at St. Norberts Farmers Market come from over 30 communities across the province.  A couple of producers drive in over 3 1/2 hours for market day.  The economic and cultural reach of one market is more that just around the city of Winnipeg.

We are all lining up to go into stores.  This quick line up with vendors outside and under the canopy, is one line up for over 60 stores. 

Enjoy the recipes and thank you for supporting local.

 

Mango Martini

Juice of one orange (I used a blood orange)

1 -2 oz Patent 5 Elettaria Gin (or Patent 5 Vodka)

1/2 oz Disorrono

1-2 tsp Get Cheeky Mango Chutney

Zest of orange

Shake in martini shaker over ice, serve straight in a martini glass or with cold tonic water as a highball.

Koniya Turkish Pizza

Such a lovely and simple pizza to prepare.  It is simply blue cheese mixed with fresh herbs and an egg.  Here, I used a Nature's Farm egg, mixed with Buttermilk Blue Cheese, from DeLuca's, and herbs and microgreens from Fertile Farm.  The base is wonderful pizza dough, from Old Church Bakery.  

Berkshire Pork Tenderloin on fluffy flatbread

I used the same pizza dough, from Old Church Bakery, but I marinated Berkshire Pork Tenderloin from Zinn Farm, and grilled it with the 7-6-5 method.  I served it on the pizza, with a little hoisin sauce and greens.

 Marinade for Pork Tenderloin or Pork Belly

1 tablespoon oil
5 slices ginger
2 scallions (cut into 3-inch pieces)
3 star anise
1 cup shaoxing wine
1 cup light soy sauce
¾ cup dark soy sauce
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5 cups water

Let the Pork Tenderloin marinate for several hours or overnight.  

On a hot BBQ, Place tenderloin and cook on medium heat for 7 minutes with the lid closed.  Turn, and cook for 6 minutes with the lid closed.  Turn the heat off and leave to rest, with the lid closed for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, let rest, and slice.  Marinating liquid can be cooked and thickened with a little corn starch and used as a sauce.

 

Enjoy!  

Butternut Squash Soufflé

Please note:   Soufflés are not as difficult or fussy as the movies depict.  In fact, you can prepare the mixture in advance for hours, prior to putting into the baking dish and baking.  It is a delicate product, but not scary.  I used amazing local products, such as, organic butternut squash, grown by Kelly Ditz, wonderful and consistent eggs, by Nature's Farm, Prairie Mills Flour, and Notre Dame butter.

 

Butternut Squash Soufflé

Preheat oven to 425º F

Part 1:
Make a Béchamel Sauce by combining the following with a small whisk over a double boiler or Bain Marie;

3 tbs. Butter
1/2 cup flour
Add a scant cup cold milk (3/4 cup)
and continue to whisk over the steam heat until thickened.
Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Part 2:

Sauté 1 chopped onion,
1 half roasted butternut squash
1/4 cup toasted almonds

Blend squash mixture to a smooth paste and set aside.

Part 3:

Add squash mixture to bechamel and whisk in. Then add 4 – 5 egg yolks from large eggs.
Fold in 4-5 egg whites, whisked to stiff peaks.

Use a buttered and floured soufflé mold or 6 smaller ramekins. Pour in the mixture and bake in the oven at 400ºF for 30 minutes (less time if using ramekins) without opening the door during cooking, until well-risen and a deep golden-brown on top.

Serve immediately. Enjoy with a light salad with a vinaigrette. Try with a chocolate fondue for dessert.

Enjoy!

Pasta alla Nerano - Magical Zucchini pasta that is creamy without cream

 

This amazing pasta dish is creamy, without cream, and so satisfying.  I used garlic and zucchini, from Heart Acres Farm CSA.  I used a good amount of Pecorino and Parmesan Regianno cheeses.

Pasta alla Nerano

1-2 zucchini, sliced in rounds

1 -2 cloves garlic, sliced

1 cup, or a good amount, of grated Percorino and Parmesan cheeses

Olive Oil, for sautéeing

salt, and white pepper, to tastes

Spaghetti, and some pasta water

Have your ingredients prepared and ready for the complete dish, aka, mise en place.  

Sauté garlic in olive oil until it starts to turn golden.  Place garlic and olive oil in a small blender container.

Sauté zucchini slices until they turn light brown on both sides.  Set aside and place 1/3 or sautéed zucchini into the blender container.

Cook pasta and reserve up to one cup of pasta water.  Drain pasta from the cooking pot but keep water hot in the pot, and set aside.  Blend the zucchini with 1/4 cup pasta water, salt, and white pepper.  Add pasta to the hot pan with a little olive oil and add the blended zucchini.  Put the remaining cooked zucchini in the pasta water and cook for a few seconds before draining and adding back to the pasta pan.  Add the grated cheese and cook down until creamy.  Add pasta water as needed.  

Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Turkish Treats: Fresh beans, marinated chicken, and rice pilaf

 Today is a day for Turkish Delights.  These dishes are so easy to prepare, when you simply get prepped.

Fresh green and yellow beans are in season now, and plentiful.  These are available from Fairlane Farm, on Saturdays at the Bronx Farmers Market.

Turkish Green Beans (Zeytinyağlı Taze Fasulye)

1 pound of fresh green beans or
1 pack of frozen green beans (either French style or Italian cut)
1 big onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, sliced or chopped
2 big fresh tomatoes, finely chopped, grated, or blended or 1 can of petite diced tomatoes
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup hot water
salt

optional
1/8 tsp ground cumin
pepper/ crushed pepper
1 tbsp tomato paste

If you prefer beans with a bit of crunch and are not mushy, try parboiling the beans for 1-2 minutes in salted boiling water, drain and cook as follows but reduce cooking time.

-If you're using fresh green beans clean and trim them to 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces.
-Heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the chopped onions and garlic until lightly brown.
-If you want to use tomato paste add it at this point and stir for a min.
-Add the beans and stir them until they slightly change color (app. 6-8 mins).
-Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 mins and then add sugar (cumin and pepper), water, and salt. -Cover the pan and cook with low heat until the beans are soft (30 mins with frozen beans - 45 mins with fresh ones).
I cook it for far less time as I don’t like very soft beans.

This is traditionally served cold, but it's good when it's warm too.

Enjoy! 

 

Rice Pilaf

2 cups Basmati Rice
scant 4 cups water
1 onion, thinly sliced, or shallots
pinch saffron
olive oil
salt
1/4 cup each of chopped nuts or pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, (such as barberry, currants, raisins, Afghani Tut, or chopped apricots)
A heavy bottomed pot

Heat the oil on medium high heat and add the saffron, to let it bloom in the oil.  Add the onion or shallots and sauté until brown,  Add the rice and coat with the oil.  Add salt, nuts and fruit. 

Turn the element on high and add the water.  Bring to a boil, stirring.  Cover, and set to medium low for 20 minutes.

Grilled Turkish Chicken (Serves 2-4 people)

4 Boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 tbs Turkish Baharat*
3-4 shallots, grated or one small onion grated
2 tsp lime juice
1/4 cup good olive oil
1/4 tsp paprika (can used smoked)
pinch salt and pepper

Combine Turkish Baharat, grated shallots, lime juice, olive oil, paprika and salt and pepper in a bowl. Place chicken thighs in the bowl and cover completely with the marinade. Place in fridge and let marinate for 6 hours. Grill 4 minutes a side on a very hot BBQ grill.

Optional:  Marinate a large amount of chicken pieces, skinned thighs and drumsticks, for example, and roast or grill.

Easy Steak Fajitas, local and lovely

In Manitoba, we produce such excellent beef, chicken, vegetables, etc.  I love to encourage people to get to know their producers and farmers, and fish mongers.  They want you to also have a great experience and an excellent product.

I used Sirloin Steak for this dish, but you can use many other different cuts of beef.  I purchased the steak from Fairlane Farms at the Bronx Park Farmers Market.  It was frozen, of course, so I put one steak on a metal baking sheet.  It thawed quickly.  The marinade is a quick marinade, so this can be made the same day.

Sirloin Steak Fajitas 

1 sirloin steak

1 tsp chili powder ( I didn't have any, so I used Ethiopian Berbere chilies, and added cumin and cinnamon)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp dried oregano
olive oil, to make a paste

Mix the spices, garlic, and oil together.  In a bowl, coat the steak well, on all sides.  Let sit for at least 30 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare the rest of your dish.

1 red pepper, cored and sliced
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
drizzle oil
salt, to tastes
1/4 tsp + each of smoked paprika and ground dried chipotle
splash of Vermouth, to deglaze

Slowly cook the sliced onions in a medium heat in a saucepan with a drizzle of olive oil.  When they begin to get quite browned, add the sliced peppers and seasonings and turn up the heat to medium high.  When the peppers are slightly softer, deglaze pan with optional Vermouth.  Set aside for the assembly.

Heat pan or grill to medium heat, and cook steak, to rare to medium rare at most.  Let the meat rest.  The gorgeous steak that we used was 2" thick, so judge cooking time accordingly.  After the meat has rested, slice thinly, on the bias, to maximize tenderness.

Enjoy with warmed tortillas, onions and pepper mixture, cheese, avocado, sour cream, salsa,

etc. 

Tuscan Stew with Roasted Chicken

This is a rich stew, that is simple to prepare, with great flavours.  Perfect winter comfort.

Tuscan Stew with Roasted Chicken

6-10 chicken legs, back on, skinned
4-6 cloves garlic
2 tsp dried sage, or 2 tbs chopped fresh sage
1 tsp dried thyme
salt, to tastes
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil

1-2 onions, sliced
olive oil, for sautéing 
4-8 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
2 tsp dried sage, or 2 tbs chopped fresh sage
2 large tins chopped tomatoes (because Winter tomatoes)
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tbs good tomato paste
2 cups chicken stock or water
1/2 cup white wine or vermouth
4-8 cups cooked white navy beans, (or try heritage beans from Berard Farms from the St. Norberts Farmers Market)
4-8 potatoes, cubed
4-8 carrots, in coins
salt, to tastes (a fair amount, as potatoes and beans need salt)

For the chicken; purée garlic, spices, salt and pepper, oil, and water and cover all of the chicken.  Easiest to do with gloves and a large bowl.  Set aside in the fridge to marinate.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

For the stew; Sauté the onions until translucent, and then add the garlic.  Add tomatoes and herbs and spices.  Let simmer for a while and add remaining ingredients.

Transfer the stew to a large roasting pan.  Place the chicken on top, submerging slightly. Roast, open, for at least 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender.

Enjoy, with toasted Focaccia.  Try crispy fried sage leaves, to garnish.

Healthy and comfy - Chicken Cacciatore updated

I recently made Chicken Cacciatore, for guests, a menu item that I haven't made in years.  I had to remind myself how to make it and I found a recipe by Alex Guarneschelli that looked adaptable.  You can use any chicken pieces but I used chicken thighs for this recipe.  I also skinned the pieces but left the bone in, for better flavour.  Wildfire Farms has wonderful chicken and is available at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market. 

 The market is open every Saturday until Christmas, from 10AM - 2PM. 

Chicken Cacciatore
(portion 2 thighs per person)

1 pkg chicken thighs, bone in, skin on, but remove skins
2 onions, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tins chopped tomatoes
4-6 roughly chopped yellow peppers (or red or orange.  Green would give a very different flavour)
1-2 sprigs rosemary, chopped
3-6 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1-2 tsp oregano
1/2 cup white wine
olive oil
optional: 1 tbs brown sugar, to reduce tomato acids, 1-2 tsp chilies( I used Allepo chilies as they are quite mild but hotter chilies would also work),

Set oven to 350ºF.

Skin chicken thighs and season with salt and pepper and optional chilies.  Set aside in the fridge.

For the sauce, sauté the onions in olive oil.  When the onions have softened, add the chopped peppers and garlic.  Then the rosemary and thyme.  When the peppers have softened, add the tomatoes and remaining seasonings.  Add the white wine and let simmer. 

In a saucepan, bring a drizzle of olive oil to medium high heat.  Brown chicken thighs.  Place sauce in a baking dish and arrange the chicken thighs on top of the sauce.  Bake for up to an hour, uncovered. 

Serve with rice, pasta, or roasted potatoes.  Arugula salad would make a nice side dish.

Enjoy!

Back to School. Lunches?!? Muffins

My 9 year old has a self-imposed limited diet.  I have to pack as much into what she will eat as possible.  Therefore, Banana Squash Muffins.  This recipe is quite adaptable to whatever you might have on hand.  Grated peeled apples work nicely as well.

Banana Squash Muffins
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 banana, mashed (or one, as you like)
1-2 cups cooked mashed squash (any variety, including zucchini)
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups flour (often more, for a thick batter)
2 cups dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 ºF.  Prepare muffin tins with papers.

Mix butter, sugar, eggs, bananas, and squash, until smooth.  Slowly add baking powder, milk, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon.  Add flour and then the chocolate.  Add flour if needed.

Fill muffin tins.  Bake.  For mini muffins, bake for 15-17 minutes.  For larger muffins, bake for 20 -22 minutes, depending on you oven.

Cool and store in containers.  Keep refrigerated after a day.

Enjoy!

Easy Thai Grilled Chicken - Gai Yang - with lovely fresh herbs

Herbs are coming in fast and fabulous at this time.  This easy to prepare Grilled Thai Chicken recipe uses some wonderful and healthful herbs, such as fresh coriander (stem included), and lemongrass, which can grow beautifully here as well.

I will be presenting cooking with herbs at the next Farmer's Festival at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market on Wednesday, August 14th, between 11AM and 4PM.

I used frozen chopped lemongrass, as that is what I had on hand and it is an easy way to store your own grown lemongrass.

Gai Yang
3 cloves garlic
1 bunch cilantro, including stalks (part of my CSA from Heart Acres Farm)
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tbs fish sauce
2 tsp dark soy sauce
2 tbs chopped lemongrass (optional)
chicken pieces (I used chicken thighs, available at Wildfire Farms at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
ground chilies (optional)

Blend all ingredients, except for the chicken, and pour over the chicken to marinate for a few hours.  Grill until done.  Enjoy!

Shown with rice pilaf and Turkish Köpegoglü.

Seasonal soup - Beet Borscht, using the market produce

The produce is coming in fast and fabulously!  Today, I decided that I would actually make beet borscht again.  Back story, because recipe blogs are filled with back stories, I didn't grow up with the beet borscht variety of borscht.  I grew up with Russian Borscht, which is cabbage forward, not beet.  We always had it served hot, whereas many people enjoy the beet borscht cold.  Short back story.

(Early in the cooking process)

Beet Borscht, ala Turque

2 bunches beets, grated roots and finely chopped leaves and stems
1 bunch dark curly kale, stems ripped out, leaves finely chopped
1 yellow onion, medium dice
olive oil, to sauté
2-3 tbs Turkish Baharat (optional)
4-8 cups stock (I used Rabbit and Chicken Stocks.  Beef is traditional, vegetarian is wonderful)
water, as needed
salt and pepper, to taste
1 bunch fresh dill, chopped
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup good tomato paste

(Options:  add crumbled dried porcini or bolets mushrooms)

In a large stock pot, heat oil and add onions.  Cook at medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent.  Add the Turkish Baharat and sauté until spices are softened.  Add vegetables and remaining ingredients.  Add water to desired consistency.  Bring to a boil and let simmer on lower heat until the vegetables are very soft.

Enjoy hot or cold, with sour cream and/or a hard boiled egg.

Beef Cheeks! Wildfire Farms makes it so easy.

Beef cheeks are so wonderful and tender when slowly cooked or done in the Instant Pot.  These, I made slowly in the oven, on a bed of sliced onion, half of an orange, thyme, garlic, bay leaves, good tomato paste, red wine, and a bit of water.  I coated the beef cheeks with grainy mustard, and cooked covered, at 300ºF for 3 hours.  I cooked them with the lid off, for one more hour.  We then pulled the meat apart with forks and combined with the sauce with the orange and bay leaves removed.

If you are preparing these in the Instant Pot, set the meat setting to 30-40 minutes. 

Beef cheeks, and other great cuts of meat, are available at Wildfire Farms at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market.

I served these pulled beef cheeks on top of latkes, with a dollop of sour cream, and a drizzle of hot sauce.

Made in Manitoba - Grilling in season

 I've been away from blogging for a little while.  Not that I don't wish to share recipes.  Just busy with other things. 

Spring is bringing forth great treats for the grill.  These are all locally available ingredients from the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market.  The asparagus and spring onions are particularly sweet at this time.  The chicken is available soon at Wildfire Farms, and you can get fantastic pizza dough, if you don't wish to make your own, from Old Church Bakery.  The spices you can enjoy from me, and the organic asparagus and spring onions were from Fertile Farms. 

Grilled Turkish Chicken on Pide (Serves 2-4 people)

4 Boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 tbs Turkish Baharat*
3-4 shallots, grated or one small onion grated
2 tsp lime juice
1/4 cup good olive oil
1/4 tsp paprika (can used smoked)
pinch salt and pepper

Combine Turkish Baharat, grated shallots, lime juice, olive oil, paprika and salt and pepper in a bowl. Place chicken thighs in the bowl and cover completely with the marinade. Place in fridge and let marinate for 6 hours. Grill 4 minutes a side on a very hot BBQ grill.

 Turkish Pizza Dough
1 tbs dried yeast
3/4 tsp sugar
2 tbs warm water
2/3 + cup Greek style yoghurt
1/4 cup olive oil
10 ounces bread flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
olive oil

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water and set aside in a warm place for about 10 minutes until frothy. In another small bowl, whisk the yoghurt and olive oil.

Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the yeast and yoghurt mixtures. Use your fingers to work in the flour and form a smooth ball. Transfer to mixer and knead with a dough hook on low speed for 10 - 15 minutes until very smooth and shiny. Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp tea towel and let rise for 2 hours or doubled in size.

Enjoy!

Sundubu Jjigae - Easy Korean Soup!

I was inspired to make this soup, as I hadn't had it in ages, and it is such a satisfying meal.  Elatia Harris was the trigger to this endeavour though, as she posted, asking a key question to this meal, do you use kochujiang (hot pepper paste) or kochugaru (Korean pepper flake)?  I prefer to use the kochugaru, as you can control the salt better, but adding a bit of the paste won't hurt either.

Sundubu Jjigae is a versatile soup, as you can add more seafood to make it a seafood soup.  I added New Brunswick Shrimp, from Gimli Fish.  PEI Mussels are also available and would work wonderfully in the soup.

Once you have all of the ingredients ready, it is very simple to prepare.  The stock takes a 20 minutes as it is simply dried anchovies, sliced radish (daikon), and kelp.  All of these ingredients are readily available at many Asian markets.  I found the dried anchovies in the cooler section at Sun Wah.

Stock:

8 large anchovies, heads removed (they snap off easily)
2 inches of daikon, peeled and thinly sliced
6" X 6" kombu (kelp)
4 cups water

In a medium saucepan, add all ingredients and cover.  Cook at medium high for 10 minutes after it comes to a boil.  Simmer for an additional 10 minutes and strain the stock.

Soup:

1/2 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped (I used wonderful dried garlic from Berrard Farm, available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
1 tbs oil, for cooking
1/2 cup chopped bacon or pork belly
1/2 cup chopped kimchi (Also use Cook's Creek Kimchi, available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
2 tbs Kochugaru (red pepper flake)
1 tsp good sesame oil
2 green onions, chopped
1 square soft tofu, cubed
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 egg per person (I used Nature's Farm Eggs, also available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)

Options:  chopped peppers, soybean sprouts, shrimp, mussels, firm white fish, pickerel

Mix the pepper flake and sesame oil together and set aside.

In a heavy pot, (clay pot will take a little longer, but is traditional), heat and add the cooking oil, onions and garlic.  Cook until soft and add the bacon or pork belly.  Cook until the pork is soft and no longer very pink.

Add the stock and kimchi and tofu, salt and sugar.  Let simmer for 5 minutes.   Drop an egg for each person, to poach, and add the green onions and top with the pepper flake with sesame oil.

Enjoy!  Usually served with rice.